Article of repose for supporting the body of a person



y 2, 1958 A. LORENZ 2,844,189

ARTICLE OF REPOSE FOR SUPPORTING THE BODY OF A PERSON Filed Jan. '7, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I FlC-ll.

mmvrozz ANTON LORENZ ATTORNEY A. LORENZ July 22, 195

ARTICLE OF REPOSE FOR SUPPORTING THE BODY OF A PERSON 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan.

INVENTOR.

ANTON LORENZ ATTOIZN EY y 1958v I} v A. LORENZ 2,844,189

. ARTICLE OF REPOSE FOR SUPPORTING THE BODY OF A PERSON Filed Jan. 7, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet :s

ANTON LORENZ ATTORNEY July 2 2, i958 A. LORENZ ARTICLE OF REPOSE FOR SUPPORTING THE BODY OF A PERSON Filed Jan. 7, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 JNVENTOR ANTON LORENZ BY 843 ATTORNEY United States ARTICLE OF REPOSE'FOR SUPPORTING BODY OF A PERSON Anton Lorenz, Boynto'n Beach, Fla. Application January7, 1954, sriarNol i'oznos 6 Claims. (Cl. 155-106 This in a continuation-impart application ofmy U. S. patent application Ser. No. 316,277,, .filed on October22, 1952, for An Article of Reposeifor Supporting the 'Body of a Person, now abandoned, andmyU. Sxpatent application Ser. No. 316,278, filed on October 22, 1952,.for An Article of Repose for Supporting the Body of a Person," now abandoned.

My invention relates to articles of furniture, andfmore particularly to adjustable reclining chairs or the like article-s of furniture, wherein a structure including a seat and a back-rest coordinated with each other in respect to their movements is rockably mountedjon a support.

-An object of the present invention is to providea convenient controlling mechanism for a leg-rest swingably mounted on the seat of a reclining article of furniture of above-described type, by means of which theleg-rest may be propelled forwardly and upwardly at acomparatively great initial speed, when the movable members of the article of :furniture are swung from their sitting position into .a reclined position, so that the leg-rest reachesahorizonta'l position when the seat and back-rest are only somewhatinclined. I I v A further object of the present inventionis toequip a reclining article of furniture 'of above described type with a controlling mechanism for the leg-rest, which permits a movement of the leg-rest into an elevated position without am-ovement of the back-rest and seat from the sitting position into areclined position. I

Another objecto'f the invention is to improve on the construction of reclining articles of furniture as now customarily made. v I p Other objects and structural details or" the invention will be apparent from the following description whenread in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, wherein: v

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a chair according to the, invention, a portion of a side wall being broken away,

I Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of a diiferent/em-bodiment of a chair according to the invention, a portion of a side wall being broken away, a

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of a chair according to the invention, a portion of a side wall being broken away, H M

Fig. 4 is a side elevationa'l view of still another embodiment of a chair according to the invention, a portion ofa sidewall beinglbroken away, I I I Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of a further ern bodi= ment of a chair according to the invention, a portion of a side wall being broken away, I 4 r Fig. 6 is a side elevationalview of another embodiment of a chair according to the invention, a portion of. a side wall being broken away,

Fig.7 is a side elevational view of a further embodiment of a chair according to the invention, a portion of a side wallbeingbroken aWeY,? nd

Fig. 8 is a side el evationalv-iew ofanofher embodiment of a chair according to the invention, a portion of a side wall being broken away.

2,844,18 I Patented July 22, 1958 Referring now to Fig. 1, 10 generally indicates a support having side walls 12 and 14 connected with each the lower end of a guiding link 32,'the upper end of which is pivoted to the support 10 at 34. One end of a frontconnecting link 36 is pivoted to the lower connecting link 26 at 30, in coaxial alignment with the pivotal connection between the lower connecting link 26 and the guiding link '32. The upper end of the front connecting link'36 is pivoted to the seat 20 at 38.- The portion of the support between the pivots 2 2 and 34 form the stationary link of a constrained linkage and the downward extension 24, the chain of connecting links 26, 3 6, the seat 20, and the guiding link32-form the movable links of said constrained linkage. When the back-rest 18 is swung intothe-extreme reclined position 18" limited by the upper end of a rear wall 40 of the supportlfl, the seat 20 is brought into the reclined position 20.

A controlling element or arm 42-swingably m'ountedon the "support 1 0 at 34 in coaxial alignment with the pivo'tal connection between the guiding link 32 and the. sup port 10 normally abuts against a nose 44 or thelike'arrangedon the guiding link 32. It is to be considered that the portion of the arm 42 which contacts the no-se44 and the nose 44 itself each constitute an element of an abutting, means and that 'the positions of such elements-are interchangeable in this and other embodiments of the invention. The lower end .of the controlling arm '42 is-pivoted at 46 to the lowerend of acontrolling link 48,

r the upper end of which is pivoted at 50. to a le'g-restSZ swingably mounted on the front end of the seat. 20 at 54. Al'ocking device 56 of any'suitable typearranged on the pivot 54 may be used for holding the leg-rest'52 in a desired position relative to the seat 20. a v Furthermore a locking device 58'of any suitable type connected with the seat 20 at 60 may be used for holding the seat 20 in a desired position relative tothe support. .When both locking devices 56 and 58 are released and the back-rest 18 is moved into the reclined. position 18', the nose 44 of the guiding link 32 abutting against. the controlling arm 42 causes a lifting of the leg-rest 52 into the position 52'. Now, when the locking device 58 is tightened, the back-rest 18, seat .20, leg-rest 52 may be held in the reclined position 18, 20', and 52.

When the back-rest 18 and seat 20 are in the sitting position (shown in full lines) limited by a stop. 62 arranged on the support 10 for cooperation with thedownward extension 24 of the back-rest 18, andwhen'the locking device 56 is released, the leg-rest g52 m'ay be lifted into an elevated position 52'. as the controlling arm 42 is in loose and in detachable engagement with the nose 44 of the guiding link 32. Now, the leg-rest 52 may be held in said elevated position 52" by tightening the locking device 56.

According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the backrest 118 and seat 120 are pivoted to the support at 122; The downward extension 124 of the back-rest 118 is pivotally connected withthe rear end of the lower connecting link 126 at 128. The front end of the lower connecting .link 126 is pivoted at 129 with an: intermediate link 1641, which is pivoted at 131 to a front connecting link 136. The upper end of said-front connecting link 136, is pivoted to the seat at 138. A guiding link 132 swing'ably mounted on the support 110 at 134 is in rigid connection with the intermediate connecting link 164and anextension 166. According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 the guiding link 1132, the intermediate connecting link 164 and the extension 166 are made of a single piece of material. Said single member 132, 164, 166 may be considered as a controlling member or guiding element swingably mounted on the support at 134 and pivotally connected with a connecting link 126 at 129 for cooperation with the control arm or element 142. The guiding element 132, 164, 166 is swung about its pivot 134 through the connecting link 126 in dependence on movements of the back-rest 118. The guiding element 132, 164, 166 is connected with the seat 120 through the front connecting link 136 for causing swinging movements of the seat 120 in dependence on its own swinging movements.

A roller 168 rotatably mounted on the guiding element 132, 164, 166 (or the extension 166 of the guiding link 132) at 170 is in abutting engagement with a controlling arm 142 swingably mounted on the support 110 at 135 at a point spaced from the pivotal connection 134 of the guiding link 132 or guiding element 132, 164, 166 with the support 110. A controlling link 148 pivoted to the controlling arm 142 at 146 is in pivotal connection with a leg-rest 152 at 159. The leg-rest 152 is swingably mounted on the seat 120 at 154. If desired, the location of the pivotal connection 146 may be changed by inserting the pin into different holes of series of holes arranged in the controlling arm 142 and controlling link 148. When the back-rest 118 is moved into the reclined position 118', the seat 120 is brought into the reclined position 120 through the linkage connecting same. At the same time the roller 168 rolls along the controlling arm 142, whereby the leg-rest 152 is propelled into the position 152'.

As the controlling arm 142 and the roller 168 are in loose engagement, it is possible to swing the leg-rest 152 from the sitting position shown in full lines into an elevated position while the seat 120 and back-rest 118 remain in the sitting position.

Locking means corresponding to the locking means 56 and 58 shown in Fig. 1 may be applied to the chair shown in Fig. 2.

According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the backrest 318 and seat 320 are swingably mounted at 322 on the support 310 of the chair. The rear end of a link chain comprising the lower connecting link 326 and front connecting link 336 is pivoted to the downward extension 324 of the back-rest 318 at 328. The front end of said link chain 326, 336, is pivoted to the seat 320 at 338. The connecting links 326 and 336 of said link chain are pivotally connected with each other at 330. The upper end of a guiding link 332 is swingably mounted on the support 319 at 334; the lower end of said guiding link 332 is pivoted to the lower connecting link 326 at 329. Thus, the portion of the support between the pivots 322 and 334 forms a stationary link of a constrained linkage while the downward extension 324 of the back-rest 318, the seat 320, the chain of connecting links 326, 336 and the guiding link 332 form the movable links of said constrained linkage.

A leg-rest 352 swingably mounted on the seat 320 at 354 is controlled by the following mechanism: One end of a controlling link 348 is pivoted to the leg-rest 352 at 350. The other end of said controlling link 348 is pivoted at 346 to a controlling element 342 swingably mounted on the support 310 at 335. Said controlling element 342 is in loose abutting engagement with a nose 344 arranged on a controlling arm 372 swingably mounted on the support 310 at 335 in coaxial alignment with the pivotal connection between the controlling element 342 and the support 310. The lower end of the controlling arm 372 is pivotally connected with one end of a controlling link 374 at 376. The other end of said controlling link 374 is pivoted to the downward extension 324 of the back-rest 318 at 373.

When the back-rest 318 is swung from the sitting position shown in full lines into a reclined position, for example the extreme reclined position 318' shown in dash lines, on one hand the seat 320 is brought into the position 320' by means of the constrained linkage described above and on the other hand the leg-rest 352 is brought into the position 352 by means of the controlling mechanism 348, 342, 372, 374 controlled by the downward extension 324 of the back-rest 318.

As the controlling element 342 is disengageable from the nose 344 of the controlling arm 372, the leg-rest 352 may be swung by hand without movement of the backrest 313 and seat 320, for example the leg-rest may be brought from the sitting position 352 into the position 352" while the back-rest 318 and seat 329 remain in their sitting position shown in full lines.

Of course, locking means of a type similar to the locking means 56 and 58 of the chair shown in Fig. 1 may be applied to the chair shown in Fig. 3.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 4 substantially corresponds to the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, i. e. again the back-rest structure 418, 424, the seat 420, the link-chain 426, 436 and the guiding link 432 form the movable links of a constrained linkage, the stationary link of which is formed by the portion of the support 410 between the pivots 422 and 434. Furthermore, again the leg-rest 452 swingably mounted on the seat 420 at 454 is pivotally connected at 450 with a controlling link 44S pivoted to a controlling element 442 at 446. Said controlling element 442 is swingably mounted on the support at 435.

However, the controlling arm 472 connected with the downward extension 424 of the back-rest 418 by the controlling link 474 is swingably mounted on the support 410 at 437 at a point spaced from the pivotal connection 435 between the support 410 and the controlling element 442. A nose 444 of the controlling arm 472 is in loose abutting engagement with the controlling element 442.

The operation of the chair shown in Fig. 4 is substantially the same as the operation of the chair shown in Fig. 3.

Locking means corresponding to the locking means 56 and 58 shown in Fig. 1 may be applied to the chair shown in Fig. 4.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, 519 generally indicates a unit comprising a back-rest 518 and a seat 520 rigid with each other. Said unit 519 is swingably mounted on a support 510 at 522. A downward extension 525 rigid with the unit 519 is pivoted at 528 to the rear end portion of a connecting link 526. The front end portion of said connecting link 526 is pivoted at 530 to a guiding link 532 swingably mounted on the support 510 at 534. The upper end of a controlling arm 542 loosely engaged with the link 532 is swingably mounted on the support 510 at 534 in coaxial alignment with the pivotal connection between said link 532 and the support 510. The lower end of the controlling arm or element 542 is pivoted at 546 to one end of a controlling link 548, the upper end of which is pivoted at 550 to a leg-rest 552 swingably mounted on the seat 520 at 554.

When the unit 519 is swung into the reclined position 519, the leg-rest 552 is brought into the elevated position 552' by the medium of the linkage described above.

The sitting position of the movable members of the chair shown in full lines, is limited by a stop 562 arranged on the support 510 for cooperation with the extension 525 of the unit 519; the extreme reclined position, shown in dash lines, is limited by the upper edge 540 of the rear wall of the support 510 cooperating with the unit 519.

If desired, the leg-rest may be brought into the position 552" while the unit 519 remains in its sitting position shown in full lines. The loose engagement between the controlling arm 542 and the link 532 permits a disengagement of the former from the latter for bringing the leg-rest into said position 552".

element and said leg-rest control means providing an independent mounting for said leg-rest allowing the occupant of the chair to move said leg-rest to various elevated positions independently of reclining movement of said back-rest, and means operatively connected between said leg-rest and said seat for locking said leg-rest to said seat in various elevated positions to which said leg-rest is brought independently of said reclining movement, said first control element and said seat-control means providing for the independent inclining movement of said seat in response to reclining movement of said back-rest when said leg-rest is locked in an elevated position wherein said first and second abutment are separated from each other.

5. A reclining chair according to claim 4 wherein said seat control means includes a link pivotally connected to said first control element and to said seat.

6. A reclining chair according to claim 4 wherein said seat control means includes a series of interconnected links connected to said back-rest and to said seat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 550,396 Seaberg Nov. 26, 1895 1,688,576 Doyle Oct. 23, 1928 2,276,053 Luckhardt et a1 Mar. 10, 1942 2,472,854 Lorenz June 14, 1949 2,535,687 Lorenz Dec. 26, 1950 2,576,466 Lorenz Nov. 27, 1951 2,578,708 Lorenz Dec. 18, 1951 2,579,502 Lorenz Dec. 25, 1951 2,672,919- Luckhardt Mar. 23, 1954 2,696,868 Miller Dec. 14, 1954 

